Family remembers USS Cole victims

Gary Swenchonis Sr. on Monday displays a U.S. flag that covered the casket of his son Gary Swenchonis Jr., who was killed in the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole.

TODD YATES/CALLER-TIMES

Deborah Swenchonis shows one of two flags that covered her son's casket during his funeral. Gary Swenchonis Jr. was killed during the USS Cole attack in 2000. Osama bin Laden claimed responsibility for the attack on the USS Cole in Yemen.

TODD YATES/CALLER-TIMES

Gary Swenchonis Sr. and wife Deborah display U.S. flags outside their Goliad home to honor the sailors that died as a result of the bombing of the USS Cole. Their son Gary Swenchonis Jr. was among them.

TODD YATES/CALLER-TIMES

This plaque honors Gary Swenchonis Jr., who was killed in the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole.

Swenchonis was 26 when he was killed.

Contributed photos Navy service members from Naval Station Ingleside raise the flags on a new flagpole in front of San Patricio County's juvenile detention center in Sinton. The pole honors Petty Officer Gary Swenchonis Jr., whose father worked at the center.